 Click Here to see if you are a Flaming Ford Owner! (Current U.S. Recall Information Included) |
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The following questions have been submitted by one or more We're posting them here because we don't necessarily have
answers for them. |
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According for Ford, the vehicles recalled have a
higher
chance of starting on fire due to heavier usage of electrical circuits
for other components. Also, some vehicles which were not included
are reported to have different wiring schemes (but the same switch). Does any of this REALLY make any difference? We don't think so. Our 85 Ranger didn't think so either. |
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There are several reasons Canada had the first
recall. First, and foremost, Canada investigates every fire and then categorizes and databases these fires for future reference. As a result, Canadian officials had detailed information at their disposal in order to come to their own conclusions independent of Ford or Ford's own statistics. The United States has no such process or database. And, even though three (3) different investigations were started on this matter by the U.S. government, the statistics used by U.S. officials came directly from Ford. And, how good were Ford's statistics? On November 27, 1995 - only two days before the initial
Canadian Recall Letters
were sent out - we contacted Ford about our 85 Ranger. We were told
that
they had no record of any similar fires. We'll leave you to your own conclusions on this one. |
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As a technician for Ford Dealers with 20 years
experience told us,
vehicle fires occur for the following reasons and in the following
order: (#1 representing the greatest number of incidents)
The issue and difference with this switch is NOT necessarily in the numbers. Unlike reasons 1 through 5, a fire due to a faulty ignition switch is the only cause on the list where the fire is likely to start AFTER the vehicle has been turned off for hours, is unattended, and is potentially parked in a garage endangering the lives of totally unsuspecting victims.
With fires due to this faulty ignition switch, there are usually no warning signs or indications of any problem whatsoever. The vehicle fire just happens. |
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That is not at all likely to be the case.Due to the lack of reporting procedures in the United States, there is no way to prove this contention. In fact, quite the opposite.For example, when the county investigated our fire, they simply reported it as an electrical fire of unknown origin. What if it were parked in our garage and the house caught on fire (which it surely would have done)? There is no way to go back through the last 13 years of fires to make this determination. What can we do? This website is doing a lot of it. We truly believe that there have been any number of deaths already that have simply been unaccounted for. We sincerely hope no one ELSE dies as a result of a fire from this ignition switch but that might be what it takes for Ford (or the U.S. government) to recall the remaining 15 MILLION vehicles. And, even if the recall occurs, there is still the aspect of monitoring it and making certain that Flaming Ford owners are notified and get proper repairs and replacements in a timely manner. The work is really only beginning. |
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A LOT!
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Is it simply coincidence
that the majority of vehicles recalled
by Ford are likely to be paid for by insurance companies that
provide comprehensive coverage if they catch fire?